A town in Egypt on the eastern edge of the Nile Delta.
About Tahpanhes
Important Egyptian center in the eastern Delta. Listed with Memphis among Israel’s enemies (Jer 2:16), it is the place to which Jews fled after the murder of Gedaliah in 586 BC when Jeremiah was taken to Egypt (43:7–9; 44:1; 46:14). Ezekiel prophesied doom against this city (alternately spelled Tehaphnehes in Ez 30:18, rsv).
Today the site is identified with Tell Dephneh (Defenneh), 26 miles (41.8 kilometers) southwest of Port Said. There is little evidence of occupation here before the time of Psammetichus I (664–610 BC), who established a fortress at the site and left a garrison of Greek mercenaries. Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes, where Jeremiah buried stones as a promise of Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion (Jer 43:9), has been identified with the fortress of Psammetichus. A fragmentary Neo-Babylonian text of the 37th year of Nebuchadnezzar refers to operations against Pharaoh Amasis and a Greek garrison.
Key References
Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah at Tahpanhes:
The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt and her proud strength comes to an end. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.
All Scripture References (7)
Jeremiah (6)
The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
So they entered the land of Egypt because they did not obey the voice of the LORD, and they went as far as Tahpanhes.
Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah at Tahpanhes:
“In the sight of the Jews, pick up some large stones and bury them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace at Tahpanhes.
This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in the land of Egypt—in Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis—and in the land of Pathros:
“Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it in Memphis and Tahpanhes: ‘Take your positions and prepare yourself, for the sword devours those around you.’
Ezekiel (1)
The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt and her proud strength comes to an end. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.